Photo Provided In a memory of happier days, Belmont County Tourism Director Barb Ballint presents a check to the late John Mattox, curator of the Underground Railroad Museum in Flushing, who died in mid-July. The tourism office gives yearly donations to museums and festivals. This year’s upcoming Rubberneck Tour through Flushing will be held in Mattox’s honor. Mattox had been helping to organize the tour through his hometown this year.

FLUSHING — One of John Mattox’s final projects was working with the Belmont County Tourism Council to bring the annual Rubberneck Tour to Flushing to showcase his hometown.

After Mattox died in mid-July, tourism Director Barb Ballint said the plans continue and this year’s tour will be held in his honor.

Mattox, an educator, historian, community leader and curator of the Underground Railroad Museum in Flushing, had been heavily involved in imparting knowledge about history to the public and in promoting the area, whether through his own museum, historical landmarks or the National Road that passes through the county.

The Rubberneck Tour is a self-guided driving tour to sites of interest in Belmont County.

“The Rubberneck Tour changes routes every year. Shortly after the event, we plan where the following year is going to be,” Ballint said, adding that plans for a Flushing destination were ironed out in November. “John Mattox was very excited about us, that we were going to have it out there. … He was actually reaching out to other organizations and places to stop out in Flushing. With his passing, I think it would only be appropriate that we dedicate this year’s event in memory of him.”

Ballint added that this is doubly fitting, since Mattox had been a boon to tourism in the area and a frequent visitor to the tourism office’s location at the Ohio Valley Mall.

“He would stop in our office at least three times a week just to visit with the girls and talk about the visitors he had had at the museum, and just catch up and touch base,” she said.

“John was just such an important asset to the tourism industry here in our area. He brought in bus groups from all over and he was involved in so many different things,” she continued. “He always put in a good word for Belmont County. … He’s sadly going to be missed not only by the tourism office, but our board and the staff.”

She added that Mattox was also involved in planning the 250th anniversary celebration for the city of Wheeling.

Ballint said the Rubberneck Tour will be held noon to 6 p.m. Oct. 13. She said it will stop at such attractions as Zion Christian Retreat and the Stratton flour mill. The Flushing Senior Center may also participate.

“We’re going to have a lot of organizations set up in the (Schuler) park,” Ballint said. “We’re hoping to have the St. C Fliers, who always participate in the rubberneck tour.”

The St. C Radio Control Fliers are a model airplane organization. The Stratton Bed & Breakfast may also be featured.

“We’re going to have the whole community of Flushing downtown. The business association is going to be very involved,” Ballint said.

The Underground Railroad Museum itself will be featured on the tour. The museum houses documentation and items dating back to the days of slavery. A garden dedicated to Mattox’s late wife, Rosalind, will also be open at the back of the museum.

Ballint said John and “Rozz” Mattox were a team and worked together for the betterment of the area.

“Everything he did was for his love for his wife, Rozz, and also for his community,” she said, adding that the Master Gardeners of surrounding communities may participate in tending the garden.

Michael McCormick, a member of the board of directors now operating the Underground Railroad Museum, said the decision was appropriate.

“Dr. Mattox was very much involved with Belmont County tourism. Among the last endeavors he was involved in was the Juneteenth celebration in Wheeling, where he spoke at, and helping to organize the Rubberneck Tour this fall,” he said.

He added that the museum is open noon to 4 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays and Saturdays by appointment. A docent, Kristina Estle, has been selected to lead tours.

Ballint said past Rubberneck Tours have seen more than 500 visitors from near and far, but she expects more interest this October.

“When people realize that this tour is going to be dedicated to the memory of John Mattox and the Underground Railroad Museum is going to be one of the stops, I can almost guarantee we’re going to double those numbers,” she said.

She added that shortly after the Rubberneck Tour, the participants will hold what she called a “celebration of life” in memory of Mattox. The plans for that event are still being worked out.

“We’re celebrating his life,” she said. “He lived every day as if it was a gift, and he was just one of those people that you wanted to be around. He made you feel everyone was important and everyone had a gift. It’s going to be very hard knowing he’s not coming through that door again.”